This year, The Ume Group Ensemble launched a brand new series of "Social Action Projects." These solo or group performances/installations are the brainchild of each individual Ensemble member and reflect issues about which they deeply care.

November saw the premiere of the series with Yokko's "EDGED" a site-specific group butoh performance both in Times Square and at Grace & St. Paul's Church reflecting on issues of immigration, borders, and identity. On December 13, Byron Hagan performed his piece "LOSS" a meditation on victims of gun violence, by sitting in Union Square and encouraging passers-by to write the names of loved ones lost to gun violence on his body. Below are photos from both events.

LOSSSite Specific Performance / Meditation in Union Square, NYC

"LOSS" Byron Hagan's public meditation on lives lost due to gun violence. An Ume Group social action project. Photo by Mike McNulty.

What is art? Really?Recently I was listening to a sound bite discussion of writer/director Felix Solis. In this discussion he spoke about how within the artistic world, there is no set structure for what creates true art. What struck me the most was when he talked about the concept of “collecting references”. What he meant by this this is that if you choose to be an actor, you must have references for what you create. If I play a character that chooses to kill someone, an act I know I would never do, I must have a reference for that motivation, for that act. How do you collect references? By living your life. If you live your life with courage and curiosity, then your life on film and on the stage will become that much more true.

"If you live your life with courage and curiosity, then your life on film and on the stage will become that much more true." - Byron Hagan

Arbitrary lines divide lands. Imaginary lines divide people. Based on those lines we create territories and dwell in them. They demarcate which place to call home, which place to inhabit and also, where you are not welcome. Some can move freely, others discreetly and others are welcome to *stay* where they *belong* and not move. Is a territory a safe space or a restraining one? Can it be both? Are these lines "The edges" that constrain us? EDGED is an invitation to question political and mental territories.